The UK’s television landscape lost a bit more of its musical heart on 28 February 2026, when broadcaster That’s TV switched off its remaining music channels on both satellite (Sky and Freesat) and Freeview, bringing to an end a bold but ultimately short-lived experiment in linear music television.

For several years That’s TV had been quietly building a suite of dedicated music channels alongside its local and entertainment services. Among those were That’s 80s, That’s Oldies and That’s Melody, decade-focused channels that replayed classics from past eras for viewers across the UK. These services were available on traditional broadcast platforms, offering listeners and viewers easy access to non-stop music video streams without subscription fees.

However, late February saw the closure of these channels’ linear broadcasts on Sky’s electronic programme guide and the disappearance of the only full-time music channel on Freeview after That’s Oldies ceased transmission over terrestrial television. Viewers tuning in over the weekend found only gaps where these music channels once sat.

That’s TV says music output isn’t disappearing entirely — the company now offers a range of free streaming music channels via platforms such as Rakuten TV and Pluto TV, and many of the same themed music feeds are accessible through smart TV services like LG Channels. This right-sizing reflects broader shifts in how audiences consume music content, with on-demand and streaming services increasingly dominating everyday listening.

The decision also leaves Sky subscribers with just a handful of full-time music channels, mainly from the NOW Music family, following the disappearance of other well-known music broadcasters over recent years. Traditional heavyweights like MTV and Channel 4’s music networks (including 4Music and The Box) have already exited the linear TV space, citing changing viewer habits and commercial pressures.

Industry analysts say this trend highlights the declining viability of linear music TV in an era where platforms such as YouTube, TikTok and Spotify offer personalised, on-demand music video experiences that linear channels struggle to match. For many viewers, the ritual of switching to a music video channel may be nostalgic — but it’s increasingly a niche behaviour rather than mainstream viewing.

As That’s TV pivots more of its music offerings toward digital platforms, the UK broadcast space moves another step away from the MTV-era vision of music television and toward a streaming-first future.